Outpost, a cross-border payments and compliance infrastructure startup, has raised £13 million in Series A funding led by Ribbit, with participation from Better Tomorrow Ventures. The funding will support product development, expansion of jurisdictional coverage, and increased headcount to meet rising global demand.
Global trade reached record levels in 2025, with UNCTAD projecting it would surpass $35 trillion for the first time, even as geopolitical tensions and higher costs slowed momentum. For merchants selling internationally, expansion has become more complex as governments tighten enforcement and update tax regimes across more than 20,000 indirect tax jurisdictions worldwide.
Outpost provides infrastructure designed to manage these challenges by handling payments, tax and compliance obligations for merchants operating across borders. The platform monitors global tax rates and applies the correct tax treatment and customs classification for transactions, while operating local entities that allow merchants to access domestic payment rails and alternative payment methods. Transactions are processed locally rather than cross-border, which increases approval rates and reduces processing costs.
Outpost also assumes liability for VAT, GST and sales tax obligations through its Tax of Record product, removing the need for merchants to register, file or manage tax compliance in each jurisdiction. Through its Merchant of Record model, it creates dedicated local entities that allow businesses to process payments and operate in markets without establishing their own legal presence.
Founded by Will Mahon-Heap, who previously led Revolut’s international expansion, Outpost already supports merchants operating across Europe, North America, LATAM and Asia, including subscription platforms, consumer software companies and cross-border e-commerce brands.
Brexit, shifting tariffs, and regulatory fragmentation have made cross-border commerce more hostile than at any point in the last two decades. Merchants are forced to choose between spending millions on consultants and local entity setup, or carrying enormous risk on payments and compliance. Outpost exists to eliminate that trade-off. We've built the only infrastructure that handles everything from local payment processing to full tax liability, allowing companies to treat international expansion with the same ease as selling locally.
After Brexit, selling into Europe went from straightforward to a nightmare. Customers were getting hit with unexpected VAT charges at their door, and we were losing repeat buyers because of it. We plugged Outpost into our Shopify store and it handled everything. VAT registration, calculation, and collection, all automatic at checkout - with Outpost liable for any errors. Our EU customers now see the full price upfront, and our European return rate has dropped significantly. With all the talk of de minimis changes coming in the EU, it's a relief knowing Outpost will take care of that for us too. It made selling into Europe feel like selling domestically again.
Cross-border commerce represents a massive, multi-trillion dollar opportunity that has been historically held back by fragmented infrastructure. Outpost isn’t just offering a better payment gateway; they’ve introduced a novel model that fundamentally changes how merchants access global markets. By absorbing the operational and compliance burdens that stifle expansion, Outpost is building a category-defining platform for the next era of global trade.
Outpost’s rapid growth is a testament to the world-class team they have assembled and their ability to absolve merchants of operational complexity. While other players are building incremental tools, Outpost has attacked the problem with a full stack model that other providers simply can’t match. We are incredibly excited to continue supporting Outpost as they coordinate the economic, administrative and regulatory rails that redefine global trade.
